Toy vehicle.



H. A WEBB. TOY VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FlLED FEB. 19. 1917- L%3,46 Patented Oct.16,1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

H. A. WEBB.

TOY VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19. 1911.

1,243,465; Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

TEE STATEd earn runes HARRY A. WEBB, OF HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT.

TOY VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 16, 1917.

Application filed February 19, 1917. Serial No. 149,504. i

and exact description.

This invention relates to toys, and more partlcularly to toy vehlcles for rather young ch1ldren.

There are at present in use certain wheeled toys made to represent horses and the like, that are straddled by the child and propelled by his legs, which aregiven sort of a walkin motion.

Oneo the objects of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle which will be of more interest to children than the kind above mentioned, because the horse or other animal has movable legs, which engage the ground or floor and can be actuated to propel the vehicle. This movement can be transmittedto the legs by-imparting a rocking, bouncing or other movement to a suit- I able body mounted on a' wheeled base." the propulsion of the vehicle being'effected by a body movement of the rider, which can be easily performed and continued for some time without fatigue.

Another object, of the invention is to furnish a toy vehicle which can be readily steered and controlled and can make good progress over the ground by a leg motion generally simulating that of a horse 01' other animal. p e v The invention also has in view the general improvement in construction and operation of devices of the class to which the invention relates. V

To these and other ends, the invention 7 consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed. I

1n the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a side e evation of a childs horse embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the 'device 111 another position;

'Fig. 3' is a top plan view of the device; a Fig. 4 is a. front end view thereof; Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 1; and

Fig.6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the base. In. constructing the toy, I use a wheeled base which preferably includes an elongated longitudinal member 10 having front and rear axles 11, 12 respectively, on which suitable small wheels or rollers 13 are mounted. The front axle or cross bar 11 is longer than the rear axle, and is swiveled to the forward end of the base by 'abolt 14 so that the axle or bar is free to turn for steering the vehicle. 'The base 10 is shown as comprising spacing parallel strips 15 which are set in notches at the. centers of the respective cross pieces or axles, the

notch 16 in the front cross piece or axle 11 being snfliciently wide toperniit the axle or cross piece to turn to the required extent. Intermediate of the ends of the base, an upright support or standard 17 is provided, -which is preferably mounted on the base by being interposed and secured between the spaced strips 15, as shown in Fig. 6. 'In the embodiment shown, the support or standard 17 serves as a mounting for a body 18, which simulates the body of a horse, and is mounted on the standard or support in such a manner as to rock up and down there- .on. In the example shown, the standard 17 is in the form of a board. which extends upi ward into a cut. out part 19 in the lower central par'tof the body 18, which body is also formed of a board: and the body is I pivoted to the support by means of cheeks 20 applied to the opposite faces of the body at its intermediate portion and abutting opposite facesof the standard. A pivot bolt 21 or other suitable pivot member passes,

through registering perforations .in the cheeks 20 and in the support 17 and permits the body 18 to be rocked on the support to a certain limited extent. This rocking movement of the body is limit-edby' the shape of the cut away portion19,-the sides of which are inclined so as to limit the upand-down swing of the body inboth directions. Mounted on top of the body 18 is a suitable seat 22. In the example shown, this seat is made of wood and is nailed to the upper edge of the body, and the upper edges of the cheek members 20, and a head 23, representing the head of a horse, is fastened to the forward part. of the seat member which extends over the forward part of the bodyat the upper edge thereof.

Thevehicle is propelled over the ground by means of one or more legs actuated from the body and engaging the. ground or floor. In the example shown, the body has a rockrear edge ofthe body.

wardly, the

ing movement, but this is not always essential. in the example'now being described, the body is provided with a pair of legs at the front of the same, and another pair of legs at the rear these legs being suitably iv-oted to the The front legs 24:, 25 are pivoted to the body by means of a bolt 26 located near the forward end of the body, one leg being located at one-side of the body and the other at the opposite side thereof. ()ne of these legs is at one side of the base 10, and the other at the opposite side thereof, and the legs are suitably spaced apart at their upper ends by means of blocks 27 held in place by the bolt 26 and located at opposite faces respectively of the body, and between the body and the respective legs. These spacing blocks 27 preferably have curved outer faces adjacent to or abutting the inner faces of the legs, so that the legs can have a certain amount of lateral play in turning corners, as hereinafter explained. The swinging movement of the body relatively to the base is so restricted that the legs 2t, 25 always assume an inclined position, that is, they are always inclined relatively to a horizontal' plane andtheir lower ends engage the floor or ground somewhat to the rear of the pivotal point of support 26. These legs may be advantageously made of wood hoards out to about the shape shown, and in fact, all of the main parts of the device may be readily out from fairly thin woodboards, so that the device can be produced at low expense. Another pair of legs 28, 29-si1nilar to the legs 24, 25 is provided at the rear of the body. The legs of the latter pair are pivoted to the body by a bolt 30 adjacent the The lower ends of these rear legs are located to the rear of the base 16, and therefore they closer together than rear legs are preferably spaced apart by means of curved spacing blocks 31, generally similar to the blocks 2'? but not so thick. Both legs, as well as both spacing blocks, are held in place by one bolt, and the construction may therefore be readily assembled and taken apart.

Supposing the parts to be in the position shown l, the vehicle can be propelled forwardly by producing a downward movement of the forward endof the body 1'8.

produced by the child, who straddles the body, sitting on the seat 22 and placing his feet on the cross piece 11 so as to steer, the hands being placed on 32 at opposite sides of the head. If new the body he legs 24:, 25 will be forcibly pushed against the ground or floor, and the reaction will be such as to advance the vehicle, causing it to roll forward on its wheels 13. be observed that the leg 2% is body at their upper ends,

can be placed the legs 24, 25, but the the handle pieces rocked forwardly and downshorter than the leg 25. in this way, the longer leg is caused to take hold first and in a gradual manner, ward movement of the forward end of the body is continued, the shorter leg 2% be comes efi'ective and continues the propulsive efiect. When the body is rocked rearwardly, the vehicle is advanced by the rear legs 28, 29 nei as the front legs. The rear leg28 1s shorter than the rear leg 29 and takes hold after the leg 29 has begun its pushing action. in the example shown, both of the short legs are located at the same side of the horse, and both of the long legs are at the opposite side, but bviously this is not essential. The lower ends of the legs are preferably provided with rubber tips 33, so that the device may be used indoors without injuring the floor. It will be understood that by rocking to and fro on the body fairly rapidly, the child can push the vehicle forward very quickly by a series of intermittent pushing movements produced by the set of legs. By making lengths, as described, the pushing effort is distributed, and in the case illustrated four difierent pushing impulses are obtained by rocking forward and then backward, so that a very uniform and positive propulsion is produced. in the example illustrated, the body is normally held in van intermediate position with respect to the amplitude of its swinging movement by means of front and rear springs 34, 35 respectively which connect the front and rear ends respectively of the body 18 with the base. As the forward rear spring is tensioned, and consequently when the rider swings the body backward, the tensioned rear spring .will aid in. depressing the rear end of the body and actuating the rear legs. Similarly, when the body is thrown forwardly, the tensioned front spring aids in depressing the forward end of the body and actuating the front legs. 7

the legs ,of different and then, as the downi which act in substantially the same rec end of the body is moved downward, the

the front cross piece the other by the to be displaced laterally to the required extent. as the child holds onto the handle members 32, there is no dificulty in holding the feet on the front crosspiece for'steering, and no tendency for the child to fall or tails of the construction without departingbecome displacedin swinging the body for g from the scope of'my inventive idea. 1 do 15 not limit myself to a device in which four propelling legs are employed, nor do I limit myself to a construction in which the legs are of different length, nor to one in which the driving movement of the leg or legs is produced by a rocking movement ofv the body, as distinguished from some other body movement. Changes may be made in these and other details without departing from the invention as defined in the claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base adapted to roll over the ground, a body mounted on the base and movable relatively'thereto by a body move-. ment of a child seated on said body, and a propelling member attached to and movable with said body and engageable' with the ground to propel the vehicle; substantially as described. 7.

2. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base member having a wheeled cross piece for steering, abody mounted on said base member but movable relatively thereto by a body movement of a child seated on said body, and a propelling leg carried by and movable with the body and engaging the ground; substantially as described. I

3. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base, a body movably mounted thereon, and a propelling leg pivoted to the body and engaging the ground soas to roll the vehicle forward as said body is moved; substantially as described.

4:. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a rolling base. a body mounted to swing up and down thereon by movement of a child seated on said body, means for steering the vehicle by the legs of the child, and propelling legs, pivoted to said body and mov= able therewith, and engaging the ground to roll the vehicle forward; substantially as described. v

' 5. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base, a, body movably mounted on said base and simulating the body of an animal, and'a propelling leg simulating the leg of an animal attached to said body and movable therewith and engageable with the groundor floor to push the vehicleforward as the body is moved relatively to the base; substantially as described. K

6'. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a "wheeled base, a body movable thereon, and a pair of propelling legs at opposite sides of the body pivoted thereto and engageable with the ground to roll the vehicle forward as the body is moved relatively to the base; substantially as described.

7. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base, the body movable relatively theretq by movement of a, child seated on said body and a pair of propelling legs secured to daid body and movable therewith 9. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base, a seat member movably mounted thereon, and a propelling leg movably connected withthe seat member and adapted to engage the ground; substantially as described.

10. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a wheeled base, a seat'member movably mounted thereon. anda pair of propelling legs movably connected with the seat member and adapted to engage the ground to roll the vehicle forward; substantially as described.

11. In a toy vehicle, a wheeled base member, a seat member, means connecting the seat member and base member for relative movement, and a propelling leg connected with the seat member in front of its connection with the base; substantially as described.

12. In a toy vehicle, a wheeled base member, a seat member, means connecting the seat member and base member for relative movement, and a propelling leg connected .with the seat member at the rear of its consubstantially as denection with the base scribed.

13. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a rolling base. a seat member, means of con-' nection between the seat member and base, whereby the seat member is mounted to swing up and down relatively to the base, and a propelling leg connected with the seat member remote from its connection with the base and adapted to engage the ground to roll the vehicle forward; substantially as described.-

14. In a. toy vehicle, the combination of a rolling base, a body member movably mounted thereon, a seat mounted on top of said body member, a propelling leg movably con nected with said body niember and adapted to engage the ground, and a handle disposed on opposite sides of the body member; substantially as described.

15. In a toy vehicle, the combination of a rolling base having a swiveled front axle, a body member, means for connecting said body member movably with said base, a seat on said body member, and a propelling leg pivoted to the body member at the rear of the connection of said body member with the base: substantially as described.

16. In a toy vehicle, a movable base, a body mounted to move up and down thereon and body with the base having a seat portion adapted to be straddled by the child, a head mounted on said body, and a propelling leg pivoted to the body and inclined downwardly and rearwardly therefrom and adapted to engage the ground as the body swings up and down to propel the vehicle; substantially as described.

l7. lna toy vehicle, eluding a swiveled axle for steering, a body having a seat, means for connecting said so that the body can swing up and down, a handle carried by the body, and a downwardly and rearwardly inclined propelling leg pivoted to the body to engage the ground rearwardly of said base; substantially as described.

18. In a toy vehicle, a movable base, a body movably mounted thereon and having a seat, and a propelling leg pivoted to the body and engaging the ground at the rear of the base; substantially as described.

19. In a toy vehicle, a wheeled base having a swiveled steering axle, a body, a seat carried by the body adapted to be straddled by the child, means for connecting the body with the base so that the former may have an up and down swinging movement, a head by the child, means with the base so carried by the body, a handle projecting laterally from the head, and one or more propelling members depending from the body and engaging the ground; substantially as described.

20. In a toy vehicle, a wheeled base having a swiveled steering axle, a body, a seat carried by the body adapted to be straddled for connecting the body that the former may have ari up and down swinging movement, a head carried by the body, a handle projecting laterally from the head, and one or more propelling members depending from the body and engaging the ground, said wheeled steering axle being so located relatively to the seat as to permit the child to steer the vehicle with his feet; substantially asdescribed. 7

21. ln a toy, the combination of a base structure movable over the ground, a seat member located above the basestructure,

. means for mounting said seat member movably on the base structure, and a propelling a wheeled base, in- I intense leg connected with said seat member and adapted to engage the ground to propel the device; substantially as described.

22. ln a toy, the combination of a base structure movable over the ground, a seat member, means mounting'said seat member on the base structure so that the former is movable up and down by a body movement of a child seated on said seat member, and a propelling leg movably connected with said seat member at its upper end and engaging the ground at its lower end, said leg normally having an inclined position; substa tially as described.

23. In a toy, the combination of a base structure movable over the ground, a seat member located above the base, means for mounting said scat member on the base, so that the former is movable up and down by a child occupying said seat member, a ha die member connected with said seat member, and a rearwardly inclined propelling leg pivotally connected with the seat member and engageable with the floor or ground; substantially as described.

2a. In a toy, the combination ofa rolling base, a seat member adapted to seat a child,

- nected with said seat member and engageable with the floor or ground; substantially as described.

I 25. ln a toy, the combination of a wheeled base, a propelling leg to engage the ground, and propel said base, a body movably mounted on the base and connected with said leg to operatethe same, and means for returning said body to a predetermined position after it has been moved toactuate said leg; substantially as described.

26. In a toy, the combination of a rolling base, a body movably mounted thereon, a leg pivoted to said body and engageable with the ground to propel the device, and yielding means normally holding the body in a predetermined position; substantially as described.

ln'witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand on the 17th day of February, 1917.

. HARRY A. 

